(haters welcome)

Main menu

Tag Archives: Phoenix Suns

It took three hours, three overtimes and 139 points, but the Los Angeles Lakers got a hard fought win against the Phoenix Suns. And in the process they gave us the Game of the Year.

I have watched a lot of games this year and not one of them came close to this one.

This game had everything. From a blown 20 point lead to clutch 3 pointers by Channing Frye to Kobe hitting big shots and Ron Artest dunking on an improbable breakaway and kissing his biceps in celebration.

If you didn’t like this game then you just don’t like basketball.

The Suns came back from a 20 point second half deficit to tie the game at the end of regulation. Watching the Lakers blow another big lead like that reminded me of the old Lakers. The Lakers that would continually take games off. Even in the playoffs. The Lakers that would get bored and the only way they could get any excitement was to let every team back into that game and try to pull out a win in the last seconds.

The first overtime ended with a very questionable shooting foul on Lamar Odom. Channing Frye makes all three freethrows to send the game into its second OT.

And just a thought here. When did Channing Frye become Mr. Clutch? Its come to the point that when he shoots a three pointer even I think, “Yeah, that’s going in.”

Frye hits another three near the end of the second OT to put the Suns up with 50 seconds left. Then Pau Gasol gets fouled but doesn’t get a pretty obvious goaltending call in his favor. But he does hit two freethrows with two seconds left to tie the game.

Ron Artest came up big in the third OT, scoring five of his 18 points in the last two minutes. Its always good to see Ron Ron do well. Not only because the Lakers usually win when he plays well but because his post game interviews are always so great.

Kobe Bryant had a season high 42 points and almost messed around and had a triple double with 12 rebounds and 9 assists.

I’m sure the Lakers will be happy to get Andrew Bynum back so he can play some defense and they won’t have to score 139 points to win the next game.

The Lakers are a very impressive 14-1 since the All-Star break and seem to be peaking at the right time. It remains to be seen if they will win another championship but the seem to be on the right track.

I know it’s early in the season but I think the Lakers need to put some feelers out to see what they can get in a trade involving Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. We have to shake this team up somehow.

You think I’m overreacting? Haven’t you heard what happened?? The Lakers have lost TWO games! In a row!!

The ThreePeat is doomed! We might as well give the title to those goofballs in South Beach. It’s all over!

Of course I’m just kidding. I do not believe any of those things I just wrote. But to listen to all the Laker Haters out there (and some “fans”) you would think all the above is true. So I am here to instill a little sanity into the conversation.

So let’s look at a few facts. I know, facts don’t have a big place in sports conversations but I’m going to give it a try.

Yes, the Lakers have lost two games in a row. Before that, they won eight games in a row. Now where I come from, eight is bigger than two. So the first streak is better than the last one. Also, I’m not sure if some of you people know it or not but the NBA Season is 82 games long. We’re a tenth of the way through the season and the Lakers have won 80% of their games so far. So if they keep up this pace they will only win 66 games. Losers!

Second, let’s take a look at the latest loss. The Phoenix Suns came into town Sunday and rained down a team record 22 3-pointers on the Lakers. The Suns shot an unbelievable 55% from beyond the arc and only won the game by five points. Let that stat sink in for a second. The Suns have a record night shooting and the game was still in doubt until the last minute.

It kind of reminds me of Game 3 of the 2009 NBA Finals. The Orlando Magic shot 75% from the field in the first half and only won by 4. At that point I knew the Lakers would be alright.

I think this season is going to shape up the same way. The Lakers will lose a few games here and there but those teams that beat them will have to play their best game.

So all the Laker Haters can rejoice and clog up my Twitter timeline with smack talk after each loss. That’s okay. I’m not going to worry until Game 7 of the 2011 NBA Finals. Just like I did last year.